Refrigerator with built-in step stool

ABSTRACT

A refrigerator with a built in step stool. The refrigerator has a storage compartment, a recessed pocket and a retractable step stool assembly. The storage compartment is integrated into a bottom region of the refrigerator and includes a handle and a door member. The recessed pocket is integrated into the door member and is configured to receive for retention a retracted assembly. The retractable step stool assembly includes a step member having a top region and a bottom region fixedly attached to a bottom region of the recessed pocket and including a plurality of leg members. The plurality of leg members are fixedly attached to a back side of the step member. The top region of the step member is frictionally attached to a top region of the recessed pocket and the plurality of leg members are collapsed when the step stool assembly is retracted and the top region of the step member is unattached from the top region of the recessed pocket and the plurality of leg members are extended out onto a floor when the step stool assembly is unretracted.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments described herein generally relate to refrigerators, and more particularly to a refrigerator with a built in step stool assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A lot of in-home refrigerators have cabinets above them that are hard to reach for the average adult, thus requiring a person to retrieve a step stool. Keeping a step stool in the kitchen makes this important room more accessible, boosts confidence, increases independence and reduces the risk of accidents. Hence, there is a need for an easily accessible step stool in the kitchen.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various advantages of the embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent to one skilled in the art by reading the following specification and appended claims, and by referencing the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary view of a refrigerator with a built in step stool assembly in a retracted position according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary view of a refrigerator with a built in step stool assembly in an unretracted position according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments disclosed herein describe a refrigerator with a built in step stool. The refrigerator has a storage compartment integrated into a bottom region of the refrigerator, the storage compartment including a handle and a door member; a recessed pocket integrated into the door member, the recessed pocket is configured to receive for retention a retracted assembly; and a retractable step stool assembly including a step member, the step member including a top region and a bottom region fixedly attached to a bottom region of the recessed pocket and including a plurality of leg members, the plurality of leg members are fixedly attached to a back side of the step member, and wherein the top region of the step member is frictionally attached to a top region of the recessed pocket and the plurality of leg members are collapsed when the step stool assembly is retracted and the top region of the step member is unattached from the top region of the recessed pocket and the plurality of leg members are extended out onto a floor when the step stool assembly is unretracted.

In some exemplary embodiments, the recessed pocket is built into the design of the outside of the door member.

In some exemplary embodiments, the recessed pocket is a cutout enclosure in the door member.

In some exemplary embodiments, the storage compartment is a freezer unit.

In some exemplary embodiments, the storage compartment is a cabinet.

In some exemplary embodiments, the recessed pocket is rectangular in shape.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator with a built in step stool. As illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, the refrigerator 10 includes storage compartment 11, a recessed pocket 14, and a step stool assembly 18. Refrigerator 10 may be any type of refrigerator, such as, for example, in-home refrigerators or commercial refrigerators. The storage compartment includes a handle 12 and a door member 13. The storage compartment can be any type of storage space suitable for a refrigerator such as, for example, a cabinet or bin unit. In a preferred embodiment, the storage compartment is a freezer unit.

The recessed pocket 14 is built into the design of the outside of door member 13. The recessed pocket is a rectangular shaped cutout enclosure in the frame of door member 13 and includes a top region 15, a bottom region 16, an open front side and a closed back side. The recessed pocket is configured to retain the step stool assembly 18 when the step stool assembly is retracted. The step stool assembly slidably fits into the aperture and frictionally retains its position in the recessed pocket.

The step stool assembly 18 is retractable and may be folded (retracted) into recessed pocket 14 as illustrated in FIG. 1 or extended out (unretracted) from the recessed pocket as illustrated in FIG. 2. The step stool assembly includes step member 19 and leg members 20 a and 20 b. Although two leg members are disclosed herein, the step stool assembly may include more than two leg members. The step member is rectangular in shape and has dimensions that allow the step member to fit into recessed pocket 14. The step member may be made of any suitable material. In a preferred embodiment, the step member is made of a non-slip material, such as, for example, rubber or plastic.

Step member 19 has a top region 21 and a bottom region 22. The bottom region 22 is fixedly attached to bottom region 16 of recessed pocket 14 using hardware fasteners. Leg members 20 a and 20 b are fixedly attached to a back side of step member 19 using hardware fasteners. In an alternative embodiment, step member 19 includes a storage area on its back side to store leg members 20 a and 20 b when the legs are in a collapsed position.

The top region 21 of step member 19 is frictionally attached to top region 15 of recessed pocket 14 and leg members 20 a and 20 b are collapsed when the step stool assembly is retracted. The top region 21 of step member 19 is unattached from the top region 15 of recessed pocket and the plurality of leg members are extended out onto a floor when the step stool assembly 18 is unretracted.

While the present disclosure describes a refrigerator with a built in step stool. It should be duly noted that the built in step stool can be integrated in other appliances, such as, for example, an oven.

Accordingly, while example embodiments are capable of various modifications and alternative forms, embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the figures and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit example embodiments to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, example embodiments are to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure. Like numbers refer to like/similar elements throughout the detailed description.

It is understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.)

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art. However, should the present disclosure give a specific meaning to a term deviating from a meaning commonly understood by one of ordinary skill, this meaning is to be taken into account in the specific context this definition is given herein.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad techniques of the embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while the embodiments of this invention have been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the embodiments of the invention should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, specification, and following claims. 

1. A refrigerator apparatus comprising: a storage compartment integrated into a bottom region of the refrigerator, the storage compartment including a handle and a door member; a recessed pocket integrated into the door member, wherein the recessed pocket is configured to receive for frictional retention a retracted assembly; and a retractable step stool assembly including a step member, the step member including a top region and a bottom region fixedly attached to a bottom region of the recessed pocket and including a plurality of leg members, the plurality of leg members are fixedly attached to a back side of the step member, and the top region of the step member is frictionally attached to a top region of the recessed pocket and the plurality of leg members are collapsed when the step stool assembly is retracted and the top region of the step member is unattached from the top region of the recessed pocket and the plurality of leg members are extended out onto a floor when the step stool assembly is unretracted, and wherein the step member includes a storage area on its back side to store the plurality of leg members when the plurality of leg members are in a collapsed position.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the recessed pocket is built into the design of the outside of the door member.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the recessed pocket is a cutout enclosure in the door member.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the recessed pocket is rectangular shaped.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the storage compartment is a freezer unit.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the storage compartment is a cabinet. 